A husband and wife who were awarded permanent guardianship of their 12-year-old grandson earlier this year are asking the Empty Stocking Fund to help get their grandson.

In her application to the Empty Stocking Fund, the grandmother wrote, “His parents are financially unable to care for him and live unstable lives. The father has a chronic illness and mother has (other) issues.

A single mother of two children has a job, but it’s not enough for her to keep up with her bills.

“I have two wonderful girls that deserve Christmas,” she wrote in her application to the Empty Stocking Fund. “I work hard six days a week to keep a roof over their head and for food and clothes. Christmas is just not possible.

“I have always had some family to help with extras from time to time, but both of my daughters lost their grandmothers (this year), so not only are they hurting and missing them, but the little help they gave is gone.”

After a single mother of two children lost her job earlier this year, her car was repossessed.

She writes: “I just started working again, so I am behind on a lot of bills, including rent. I am asking for a little help so I can maybe get my children a toy each and some much needed clothes. I won’t be able to get them much since I am so behind on my bills. Anything helps. I just want my kids to be able to open at least one gift so they may feel special and loved.”

A young couple facing bankruptcy and possible foreclosure hopes the Empty Stocking Fund will help their two children, including a daughter with special needs.

“My husband was out of work for the majority of 2011 and 2012. He now works, however his income has literally been reduced to half of what he was making before,” wrote the wife in her application to the Empty Stocking Fund, The St. Augustine Record’s annual fundraiser to help families get food and gifts for Christmas.

An elderly man has turned to the Empty Stocking Fund for help because he wants to have a good Christmas for his grandchildren, who will be visiting him over the holidays for the first time.

He has financial problems and can no longer work.

“I have grandchildren (out of state) that will be in St. Augustine for Christmas,” he wrote in his application to the Empty Stocking Fund, The St. Augustine Record’s annual fund drive to help local families buy food and gifts for the holidays.

A woman who was in a relationship so abusive that she lost her teeth and whose only income is food stamps has turned to the Empty Stocking Fund to help her provide for her three small children.

“I don’t have a job yet and I would like my kids to have a really good Christmas,” she wrote in her application to the Empty Stocking Fund, The St. Augustine Record’s annual fundraiser to help families get food and gifts for Christmas.

She did not say in her application about being a victim of domestic abuse, but her agency case worker did.

A single mother who is a victim of domestic abuse and who has two young children has never turned to the Empty Stocking Fund before for help, but is this now because her children have had such a rough year.

“I would really like to show them that not everything is a disappointment and actually give them a Christmas they are not only going to enjoy and love, but remember this as one of the best Christmases yet,” the mother wrote in her application to the Empty Stocking Fund.